
aass_E^bAi 
Book >C\^ 







THE 

(Uar of i$i2°iM4 

BETWEEN 

Great Britain and tbe United States 

A LECTURE DELIVERED 

at the 

Montreal military Institute 

and before the 

numismatic ana JTtttiquarian Society of Montreal 

in February \%^ 

BY 

FRANCIS WAYLAND CAMPBELL 

M. A., M. D., L. R. C. P. London, D. C L. 

Deputy Surgeon General, 

late Royal Regiment Canadian Infantry 



MONTREAL 

HIpb. Pelkticr, Printer, 36 St. Cawrence Street 

1899 



THE 

mar of i$i2-iM4 

BETWEEN 

Great Britain and m United States 

A LECTURE DELIVERED ^ li^fV 

at the 

montreal military institute 

and before the 

numismatic and JIntiquarian Society of Itlontreal 

in Tebruary m^ 

BY 

FRANCIS WAYLAND CAMPBELL 

M. A^ M. D^ L. R. C. P. London, D. C L. 

Deputy Surgeon General, 

late Royal Regiment dnadian Infantry 

MONTREAL 

fliph. Pclleticr, Printer, 36 St. Cawrencc Street 

J899 



i^ 






(h 



Xm,- 



! ! 




THE WAR OF J8J2-J3-J4 







CARCELYa generation had passed away, 
since the prolonged struggle of the Ame- 
rican revolution had ended, when there 
arose complications, as a result of the 
struggle which Great Britain had been carrying on 
for the liberties of Europe. The sources of the war 
of J 812 are clearly traceable to the events of the 
preceeding century. Sparks of hostility had remained 
smouldering between Britain and her revolted GdIo- 
nies ; and the mother country had possibly not yet 
entirely forgiven them, or got over the accrimony of 
the separation. Among a numerous class in the Unit- 
ed States there existed a latent and easily excited 
hatred of everything British. In Canada, the English 
settlers, consisted chiefly of old British soldiers or 
United Empire Loyalists, who had left comfortable 
homesteads in the United States — to make in Canada 
new homes under the folds of the Union Jack they 



4 THE WAR OF J8I2-J3-I4 

loved so well. An animosity — ^the more bitter be- 
cause the countries were so close — also sprang up 
between the two countries. This asperity was of 
course much aggravated by the means which Great 
Britain took for her protection while fighting Napo- 
leon almost single tanded. The paper blocades of 
J 806 and J 807 by which she and France respectively 
placed the whole coast of the other, under a ** con- 
structive blocade " bore especially hard on the United 
States, whose marine at this period had almost 
monopolised the carrying trade of the world. Britain 
had not only exercised its right of search, but it as- 
serted the right to seize English seamen found on 
.American vessels, so that American sailors were 
often impressed into the British fleet. The irritation 
which this caused was kindled into a flame by the 
arbitrary action of a British Commander. Acting 
under orders of Vice Admiral Berkeley, Captain 
Humphries of H. M. S. Leopard overhauled the Unit- 
ed States frigate Chesa.pea.ke, and demanded the sur- 
render of alleged deserters. The demand being re- 
fused, a broad side compelled the Chesapeake to strike 
her colors and surrender the deserters. This act was 
at once disavowed by the British Government, before 
a word of remonstrance from the United States could 
reach it. The Captain was recalled, the Admiral 
superseeded and an official note handed the United 
States declairing right of search when applied to ves- 
sels of war extended only to requisition, and was not 
to be carried by force. Without waiting to see what 
action Britain would take, the United States, ex- 



THE WAR OF I8I2-J3-J4 5 

eluded British ships from all American ports. This 
had a most injurious effect on American trade, es- 
pecially in New England. A year later this embargo 
was exchanged for an act of non-intercourse with 
France and England only. They had no means of 
enforcing this, so it was withdrawn but they main- 
tained a standing offer that if either power would 
repeal its edicts, it would suspend commerce with 
the other. Napoleon seeing his opportunity to check- 
mate Britain accepted the offer. In February 1 8 U 
the United States declared all intercourse with Great 
Britain and her dependencies at an end. In May 1 8 U 
the U.S. frigate President provoked an encounter with 
the British sloop Little ^elt^ and shot her to pieces. 
The American Captain was tried by Court Martial 
and acquitted amid national exultation, Great Britain 
accepting the official declaration disavowing hostile 
intention. In November I8U the President ap- 
pealed to the nation for the ** sinews of war." A large 
class of the American people, were full of sanguine - 
hope of an easy conquest of Canada. It was pre- 
sumed that political troubles and grievances, connect- 
ed with the Imperial executive, had so far under- 
mined Canadian loyalty, that the Colonists would 
interpose, slight resistance to an American invasion. 
It was known that Bonaparte was desirous of wresting 
from Britain the New France of the early French Colo- 
nists. It was at this time believed that Napoleon would 
become sole master of Europe, and that the United 
States by joining hands with him, would divide with 
him — the empire of the world. Britain, then almost 



6 THE WAR OF J8t2-J3-J4 

alone contending against the usurper, it was felt 
would neither have the leisure or the power to 
defend Canada. Great Britain felt that a junction 
between the United States and Napoleon, meant 
ruin to English industry — so that after some delay 
caused by a ministerial crisis — the obnoxious orders 
were repealed on the 23rd of June. The news did not 
reach the United States for some weeks, and it came 
too late, for on the 1 8th of June J8J2, the American 
Congress declared war with Great Britain. Even if 
the news had been received in time it is doubted if it 
would have averted war, so stong was the feeling of 
the majority of the people for it. The step however 
was not unopposed. Virginia strongly denounced 
the invasion of Canada, and the proposal to seduce 
Canadians from their loyalty, and as a prominent 
American stateman expressed it ** converting them 
into traitors, as a preperation for making them good 
American citizens.** The New England states also 
strongly opposed the war, and Boston displayed her 
flags at half mast, as a token of mourning, while a 
mass meeting passed resolutions, protesting against 
the war. Let us for a moment see how the two coun- 
tries stood as regards population, from which to draw 
the required men. The population of the United 
States was 8,000,000, while Canada numbered but 
300,000. From the Detroit river to Halifax, there 
were scattered British regulars, numbering all told 
4,500. Upper Canada, now Ontario, where the bulk 
of the fighting occurred, had only a population of 
little more than 30,000. In the brief time offered by 



THE VAR OF J8J2-I8-U 7 

a lecture it is of course impossible to follow all the 
events what took place, in a war which covered nearly 
three years. I am therefore compelled to notice only 
the principal events. In Canada the inpending storm 
had long been dreaded. General Brock who besides 
being commander, was administrator of the Govern- 
ment in Upper Canada, had not been slow in reading 
the signs of the times, and so far as he could, taking 
measures for defence. Great Britain, harassed as she 
was with her European war had treated the representa- 
tions of the exposed condition of Canada with an un- 
fortunate lack of efficient response. Canada with its 
magnificent distances and scattered population could 
scarcely have been less prepared for war or worse 
equipped for defence. It is not strange that at first there 
was some despondency, when she found herself 
launched into a war with her powerful neighbor. 
But the true British spirit still existed in the Cana- 
dian people, many of whom had already sacrificed 
much for their love for the old flag. Troops of vol- 
unteers poured into all the garrison towns, many 
being obliged to retire for lack of arms to equip them. 
The news of the declaration of war first reached 
Canada, at Montreal through a private channel, the 
British Minister at Washington not having taken 
efficient means to have it reach the authorities in 
Canada. The moment it was known. General Brock 
took prompt measures. He established his head 
quarters at Fort George on the Niagara river, asked 
for reinforcements from Lower Canada (which could 
not be granted till reinforcement arrived from Great 



8 THE WAR OF J8I2-J3-J4 

Britain) appointed a day of prayer and fasting in 
recognition of the impending crisis, looked to the 
frontier forts and outposts and paid special attention 
to securing the co-operation of the Indians, and the 
equipment and drilling of the militia. As I have al- 
ready said, there was a great scarcity of arms, also 
clothing and shoes which could not be provided for 
in the country. As to weapons it is said some of the 
Militia, temporarily supplied themselves from their 
implements of husbandry. On the J Uh of July, Gen- 
eral Hull with 1500 men, crossed into Canada from 
Detroit. At Sandwich he issued a proclamation, of- 
fering the Canadian people in exchange for the tyr- 
anny under which they were suffering ** the invalu- 
able blessings of civil, political and religious liberty. ** 
From Fort George, Brock issued a counter procla- 
mation, reminding them of their prosperity under 
British rule, and assuring them that the mother coun- 
try would defend Canada to the utmost. He pointed 
out the injustice of the threat of the Americans to 
refuse quarter if the Indians were allowed to fight 
side by side with their British allies. On the 27th 
of July he opened an extra session of the Legislature 
at York (Toronto). In his address he said ** by una- 
nimity and despatch, we may teach the enemy that 
a country defended by freemen can never be con- 
quered.** The action of the Legislature somewhat 
disappointed him — for the invasion naturally pro- 
duced some dispondency — the Indians in the West 
were known to be wavering ; a portion of the pop- 
ulation about Sandwich of French and American 



THE WAR OF I8J2-I3-I4 9 

extraction, and lying exposed to the first onset of the 
enemy were disaffected. General Brock^s strong and 
hopeful attitude rallied the waverers. Inspired by his 
example the country braced itself to a defence against 
great odds, with a courage which may not only 
excite our admiration, but gives us an example 
which we at any time might be proud to follow. 
Meanwhile hostilities had actually given the first 
honors to Canada. General Brock had early strength- 
ened Amherstburg on the Detroit River. He had also 
seen the importance of taking possession of strategic 
points of Detroit and Michilimackinac, not only to 
secure the active co-operatfon of the Indians but also 
because without them the whole of Western Canada, 
perhaps even as far as Kingston would have to be 
evacuated. Immediately on hearing of the declaration 
of war he assumed the offensive by ordering an attack 
on Michilimackinac, which was gallantly carried out 
by Captain Roberts. He advanced to the attack with 
45 regulars and 600 Canadians and Indians, when 
the garrison capitulated. In the Amherstburg District 
a little later came the success of a small British force 
at Tarantee. 

About the same time the famous Indian Chief 
Tecumseh, captured a provision convoy of General 
HuIFs, along with important correspondence. Mean- 
while Hull became so discouraged that he recrossed 
the river to Detroit, on the 7th and 8th of August ; 
on the 1 5th of August General Brock, after a toilsome 
march from Burlington heights to Long Point on 
Lake Erie and after four days and nights of hard 



JO THE WAR OF J8I2.J3-I4 

rowing he reached Amherstburg, with a force of 300 
regulars and 400 Militia, ** disguised in red coats/* 
Here he met Tecumseh, who offered his ** braves ** 
as allies. Brock at once summoned General Hull 
who was in Fort Detroit to surrender, and followed 
this summons by the crossing of the British force. 
Before the assault could be carried out the garrison 
startled by the effects of the first fire from the bat- 
teries, surrendered to the British. By this capitula- 
tion the whole State of Michigan, a ship of war, 33 
canon, stores to correspound, 2500 troops, and one 
stand of colors were surrendered to the British. 
The surrender of Detroit electrified all Canada. No 
more was there doubting or wavering, disaffec- 
tion slunk out of sight, and Brock became the idol 
of Upper Canada. Leaving Procter in charge of De- 
troit, with as many men has he could spare. Brock 
hastened back to York (Toronto) on the schooner 
** Chippewa*' hopeing now to sweep the Niagara fron- 
tier clear of every vestage of invasion, and securing 
Sacketts Harbor remove all danger of an attack from 
Lake Ontario. But on Lake Erie he was met with 
the news of the untimely armistice which Sir George 
Prevost had made with the American Gen. Dearborn. 
Against this armistice Brock rebelled for his hands 
were tied. The effect of it was to give the Americans 
time to repair their reverses^ Meanwhile the Ameri- 
can President did not approve of the armistice, and 
operations were resumed. A cordon was formed along 
the frontier of Lower Canada from Yamaska to St. 
Regis where the line of separation between the Unit- 



THE WAR OF I8t2-I3-J4 JJ 

cd States and Canada touches the St. Lawrence, con- 
sisting of Canadian Voltigeurs and part of the embodied 
Militia. A light Brigade was formed at Blainfindie, 
under Lt. Col. Young of the 8th Reg., and consisted 
of the Canadian Fencibles and the flank companies of 
the 8th, J 00th, 1 03th and 1st Batt. embodied Militia. 
On the Montreal frontier the road to the United 
States from the Camp at TAcadie, through Odeltown 
was rendered impracticable by abattts* This work 
was done in a short time by the Voltigeurs, under 
Major de Salaberry. On the other hand the Ameri- 
cans under General Dearborn, threatened Montreal 
via Odeltown and St. Johns. Meanwhile the Ameri- 
can General Van Rensellaer burning to retrieve the 
surrender of Detroit had concentrated on the Niagara 
frontier, a force of over 8,000 men. Early in October, 
Brock was convinced that an attack was impending, 
and accordingly had issued particular directions to 
all the posts, where a landing might be effected. A 
large force had collected on the American side at 
Lewiston, about 7 miles below the Falls. At this 
point the river is very narrow, and on the Canadian 
side was the beautiful wooded Plateau of Queens- 
town heights. Early on the morning of October U, 
1 8 12 a crossing was attempted but failed owing to 
tempestuous weather and lack of boats. But on the 
J 3th before day break a crossing was effected by an 
advance Guard of General Van Rensellaer army- 
protected by a Battery at every point at which they 
could be opposed by musketry. The landing was 
gallantly resisted by a small out post force of regu- 



12 THE WAR OF J8I2.I3-J4 

lars and Militia, backed by an J 8 poundcs on the 
Heights, and another gun a mile below. Both assault 
and resistance was resolute and brave but fresh de- 
tachments of troops followed till about UOO men 
were in line confronting the British out posts. Both 
Captains of the two companies of the 49th Reg. had 
fallen wounded and the J 8 pounder was of no avail 
over a large part of the field. The engagement was 
growing hot, with serious loss on both sides ; Van 
Rensellaer himself being wounded. Meanwhile Brock 
who was at Fort George heard the connonade, mount- 
ed his horse and galloped to the scene of action. 
Before he had time to reconoiter the field, a fire was 
opened in the rear from a height above a path which 
had been left unguarded because reported inaccessa- 
ble. This path had been gallantly scaled by a detach- 
ment of American troops. The volley was promptly 
followed by a rush. Brock and his aide had no time 
to remount, and were swept back with the men who 
manned the Battery. A detachment of the 49th one 
hundred strong, charged up the hill, and were re- 
pulsed, but re-inforced charged again, and in the 
struggle the whole were driven to the edge of the 
bank. With a storming foe in front of them, a preci- 
pice of 180 feet behind them, and the roaring river 
beneath, the white flag was raised by the Americans 
— but quickly torn down. Thus re-inspired by their 
Commander, they opened a scathing fire. Brock who, 
in front, roused beyond himself, had forgotten the 
General, in the soldier, conspicious by his great 
height, dress, gesture and undaunted bearing, was 



THE WAR OF I8I2-JS-J4 J3 

pointing to the hill and had just shouted " Push on 
the brave York Volunteers ** when he was struck by 
a ball in the right breast, which passed through his 
left side. He only lived long enough to ask that his 
death should be concealed from his men, and to send a 
message to his sister. Shortly after, McDonell his 
aide- de- camp t a Lieut.-Colonel of Militia and Attorney 
General for Upper Canada, while leading on the 
York Volunteers and breasting the hill on horseback 
was struck from the saddle. He was removed from 
the field and died next day. The great loss on both 
sides, now caused a lull in the fighting, the Ameri- 
can retaining the perilous foothold they had gained at 
great loss, while the British retired under cover of the 
village awaiting reinforcements. These were already 
on their way. General Sheaffe, who had followed 
Brocks directions to collect all available troops, speed- 
ily came up with about 380 regulars, two companies 
of Militia, and a few Indians, re-inforced at Queens- 
town by more Militia and Indians, making up his 
total to 800 men. With this force he outflanked the 
enemy, and surrounded them in their dangerous posi- 
tion between the heights and the river. A determined 
onset forced them to a headlong and fearful retreat, 
many being dashed to pieces in descending the pre- 
cipitous rocks or drowned in attempting to cross the 
river. The surviving remnants of the invaders, who 
had numbered 1,100 mustered on the brink of the 
river and surrendered unconditionally with their 
General Wadsworth, as prisoners of war. The loss 
on the American side was about 400 killed and 



J4 THE WAR OF J8I2-I3-J4 

wounded. The British loss was 80 killed and wounded. 
Sheaffe having thus bravely won the day was un- 
fortunately led to throw away most of the advantages 
of his victory by signing an armistice. For this he 
is blamed by many who think he ought to have 
crossed the river, and taken possession of Fort Nia- 
gara, which was fired at from Fort George and 
completely dismantled and abandoned. As autumn 
passed into winter, some ineffectual skirmishes oc- 
curred along the St. Lawrence. In the meantime 
General Dearborn on the New York frontier of Lower 
Canada had assembled an army of 10,000 men. But 
the French Canadian Militia sprang to arms, the land 
bristled with bayonets. Major De Salaberry, in the 
infancy of his fame, had command of the outposts, 
and under his inspiration these undisciplined levies 
speedily showed that they were too much in ernest 
to be trifled with. On the 20th of November, Gen- 
eral Dearborn made a demonstration on a picket at 
Lacolle, which consisted of Militia and a few Indians. 
These were under command of Colonel Mackay, 
father of the late Judge Mackay, who handled his 
force so well that Dearborns force retreated to Cham- 
plain, where it took up winter quarters. The inland 
American marine made in effectual attempts to capture 
two British schooners, both of which escaped into 
Kingston; later a small British bark became their 
prize. On November 20th, Kingston was bombarded, 
sustaining little damage and returned the attention 
with interest. At the same time. General Smyth suc- 
ceeded Van Rensaeller on the Niagara Frontier, and 



THE WAR OF J8I2-I3-J4 15 

made an ineffectual attempt at Fort Erie, after which 
he went into winter quarters. The Legislatures of 
Upper and Lower Canada met at the close of the 
year and voted large sums for the equipment of the 
Militia. Recruiting went on briskly during the winter, 
and by spring the Canadian forces, amounted to 
8,000 men, including regulars. The opposing Amer- 
ican army, including regulars and Militia was about 
27,000 strong. The campaign of 18 J3 opened at an 
early date, while the frozen rivers afforded easy 
passage for troops. During January, February and 
March skirmishes took place along the frontier at 
Amherstburg, Gananoque and Brockville. The most 
important operation at the opening of the year took 
place in January. An American force under General 
Harrison made demonstration on Detroit which was 
held by a weak garrison, under Colonel Proctor. The 
season though favorable to an advance from the 
American side precluded all possibility of the British 
being re-inforced. On January Uth, Proctor learned 
that a division under General Winchester, had been 
send forward by General Harrison, and had reached 
an advanced position. Proctor saw that the Ameri- 
can force had advanced beyond the shelter of support, 
so he flung his whole strength on Winchester before 
Harrison could reach him. At break of day on the 
22nd Proctor attacked the enemys division, about 
J, 000 strong, and met with a desparate resistance. 
The fight continued some time, but eventually fearing 
destruction of his entire force Winchester surrendered 
it and himself as prisoners of war, 522 men and offi- 



J6 THE WAR OF I8I2-I3-I4 

cers, with arms, stores and amunition, became the 
prize of the British — about 400 were killed and 
wounded* Proctor had 500 regulars and Militia and 
600 Indians, and lost J 80 men. For a time Detroit 
was secure. At Prescott, opposite Ogdensburg, a small 
force of some 400, principally Glengary Militia, under 
Colonel McDonell eagerly watching an opportumly 
to repay the forays which in the late autumn the 
Americans had made on the neighborhood of Brock- 
ville. It had been the practice since the ice had formed 
to drill daily on the river. Half the river belonged to 
them, so that they were allowed to drill and ma- 
noeuvre unmolested. On the morning of February 
22nd McDonell descended on to the ice at the head 
of 480 men and 2 Field pieces. He played and purred 
for sometime with valvety touch preparing for a 
spring. Having divided his force into two portions, 
assuming himself command of one and Jenkens, a 
gallant New Brunswick the other, a sudden dash was 
made. They took the enemy completely by sur- 
prise, drove them from every position, stormed and 
carried the Battery, burned the barracks and 4 armed 
vessels frozen into the harbor, and captured eleven 
cannon, and a large amount of Military stores and 
many prisoners were taken. The American loss is 
placed at 75 men killed and wounded. The British 
loss was 8 killed and 52 wounded. For a mo- 
ment or two allow one to digree from actual ware- 
fare, to explain who and what were the Glengarians, 
who played so important a part in this war. After 
the American revolution, the Counties of Stormont, 



THE WAR OF I8I2-J3-H 17 

Dunday and Glengarry were appropriated by the 
British Government as a place of settlement for Unit- 
ed Empire Loyalists. It so happened that among 
those early settlers, a majority consisted of Scotch 
Highlanders, the descendants of men who after Cul- 
loden, had been transported to the plantations. To 
them was added a gallant band of Scottish soldiers 
who had fought against France from 1792 to 1803. 
The brief peace of 1 802, led to the unfortunate dis- 
bandment of many fine British Regiments, and 
among them a regiment of Roman Catholic High- 
landers, raised only a few years before by Alexander 
McDonnell of Glen Urquhart, a Catholic clergyman 
of great energy of character. He had been appointed 
their chaplain. On their disbandment he obtained 
from the British Government the means to trensport 
the men of the Glengarry Regiment to Canada. He 
led them into the wilderness, and engrafted on the 
waste, their faith to God and fidelity to the throne. 
The emest priest, and tried friends through life never 
deserted them. Partaking of the charactert of the 
Mediacal churchman, half Bishop, half Baron he 
fought and prayed, with equal zeal by the side of 
men whom he had come to regard as his hereditary 
followers. He rose to the Episcopate and died, uni- 
versally belowed. Bishop of Kingston. In raising the 
Glengarry Regiment, he was must active in rousing 
the enthusiasm of his parishioners. The firy cross 
had passed through the land, and every clansman 
obeyed the summons. This is the stock which nearly 
one hundred years ago, and more, was placed in 



18 'i HP J8J2-JS-I4 

these counties, and which has all but retained its 
same exclusive character, as it has its well tried loy- 
alty. In March J8 J3, the J04th " Regt/' left Fredrick- 
ton to reinforce the troops in Canada. Coffin in his 
litlle work on these three years of war, says : ''These 
men actually marched on snow shoes the entire dis- 
tance between Fredrickton and the St. Lawrence, 
confronting hardships, to which the march of the 
Guards in January, J 862, was but a holiday freak. 
During the winter months the Americans had been 
exceedingly active not only in preparing troops but 
in preparing to obtain the supremacy of Lake On- 
tario. England had not even yet realised the full 
gravity of the situation, though the Canadians did. 
Indications were that Toronto, then know as York, 
was to be attacked. It contained a little less than 1,000 
souls, and a garrison of about 600, 200 or 300 reg- 
ulars, and the rest Militia. On the 25th of April 
Commodore Chauney and General Dearborn left 
Sacketts Harbor with sixteen sail and conveying a 
land force of 2500 men. Videttes had for some time 
before been on constant watch, with order to fire 
alarm guns, and then ride into town, on sight of a hos- 
tile fleet. It was late in the evening of April 26, when 
the first report hushed every voice, and for a moment 
startled the whole population. But the men of York 
paused not long, old and young rushed to arms. On 
the first alarm General Sheaffe got his men in hand, 
and awaited what the morning would bring forth. 
But York was incapable of defence, in fact all the 
troops then in Western Canada would have been in- 



THE WAR OF J8I2-I3-t4 J9 

sufficient. He therefore made the necessary prepara- 
tion for meeting the enemy, and if hard pressed, to 
save his force, destroy all public property, and retire 
cither on Burlington Heights or Kingston, according 
to the developements of the enemy. At early dawn 
the American Squadron was seen bearing down on 
the western flank of the town. While they engaged 
a small mutilated 3 gun Battery at what is known 
as the old fort, a large force landed and cut of all 
retreat westward. Sheaffe sent the best portion of his 
force to keep the enemy at bay. For a time the enemy 
were held in check, but being rc-inforced in over 
whelming numbers, the British were outflanked and 
compelled to retire with a loss of nearly 100 in killed, 
wounded and prisoners. An accidental explosion of 
one of the batteries, silenced the fort guns and as 
this left no hope of successful resistance Sheaffe de- 
stroyed such stores as he could, and took with him 
such as he was able, and retreated on Kingston. Mean- 
time the American advanced column having taken 
possession of the fort, were nearly destroyed by the 
believed accidental explosion of the magazine. Al- 
though Sheaffe left an officer to arrange terms of 
capitulation the Public Buildings were burned, the 
Church and Library pillaged and acts of vandalism 
perpetrated contrary to the articles of the capitulation. 
General Dearborn made no attempt to pursue the 
retreating British force. Newark now Niagara de- 
fended by General Vincent with J, 340 troops, sta- 
tioned at Fort George, was the next point of attack. 
Contrary winds, bothered the flotilla greatly, but it 



20 THE WAR OF J8J2-J3-J4 

reached the American shore about the 8th of May, 
where it lay for about two weeks, receiving re- 
inforcements from Sacketts Harbor. 

On the 27th of May, the American force now aug- 
mented to between 7 and 8,000 men, effected a landing 
about a mile from the fort, in spite of a very vigorous 
resistance from 250 Militia men, and 40 Indians. 
They were, however forced back upon the main 
body. Vincent and his men did all that brave soldiers 
could do to oppose the advance ; but after a desperate 
struggle of three hours against odds, in which both 
officers and men suffered severely, he determined to 
retreat to save the remainder of his men. He left 350 
regular troops and 85 Militia, killed or wounded on 
the ground. Fort George with guns spiked fell into 
the hands of the enemy. Vincent retreated upon the 
strong position of ** Beaver Dam.*' Here he was re- 
inforced from Fort Erie and Chippewa, and sup- 
ported by a small force of the Royal Navy, he reached 
Burlington heights in safety, and established himself 
in a strong position, on what is now part of the City 
of Hamilton, to await orders from Quebec. Mean- 
time a demonstration was made from Kingston upon 
Sacketts Harbor. On the same day that York 
fell, a half dozen large and a few smaller vessels 
sailed from Kingston, with 750 troops. Sacketts 
Harbor was reached about noon, but though no sign 
of resistance was visible, and the men were actually 
in the boats, the landing was without apparent reason 
abandoned, and the vessels left to hang about till two 
days later, when it was gallantly effected, and the 



THE WAR OF I8IM3-U 2J 

American regular troops routed and driven into their 
stockaded barracks and fort. Everything promised 
that this important stronghold would fall into the 
hands of the British, when Prevost, who is by near- 
ly all writers, styled the evil genius of the Campaign, 
ordered a retreat, against the earnest protest of Colo- 
nel Drummond of the J 0th Regt. Even the wounded, 
three of whom were officers, were deserted, and this 
though the re-embarkation took place in good order. 
This expedition was a shock to his reputation from 
which he never recovered. Though Dearborn had 
not showed any particular energy in following up 
his successes at York and Niagara, yet he fek the 
necessity of disloging Vincent from his position on 
Burlington heights. On the 5th of lune, Vincent was 
apprised of the advance of an American force of 
3,500 men, under Brigadiers Chandler and Winters. 
Colonel Harvey, who had just arrived, to assume the 
position of Deputy Adjutant General, offered to lead 
a night attack against the approaching force, in pur- 
suance of his policy of ** bold offensive operations.^^ 
It was most successfully carried out at Stoney Creek. 
The enemy were tal^en unwares. The engagement 
lasted about an hour and a half, when the American 
army was completely demoralised. It destroyed its 
baggage and retreated to where the town of Grimsby 
now stands. The British retired at day light, in good 
order, with a hundred prisoners, which included Gen- 
erals Chandler and Winters. Several guns were 
also captured. This successful attack on a force 
numbering five times its assailants, rallied the dis- 



22 THE WAR OF J8J2-J3-J4 

couragcd defenders of Canada and for the time turned 
the fortunes of war, saving Kingston and the Niagara 
district. The American troops now thrown back on 
to the edge of the frontier at Fort George, determined 
to surprise the British depot at " Beaver Dam/' This 
attempt was frustrated by the gallant exploit, of a 
brave woman, Laura Secord, wife of a Militia officer, 
wounded at the battle of Queenstown Heights. 
Hearing of the intended attack, she undertook a peril- 
ous journey of twenty miles through the woods, in 
order to warn Fitzgibbon, the officer in command. 
The timely warning which he received, enabled him 
to concentrate his forces, so that with about three 
score regulars and 250 Indians, he was able not only 
to repulsethe attack, but also to capture the entire at- 
tacking force of 542 men, 2 field pieces two ammuni- 
tion wagons, and the colors of the J 4th U. S. Infant- 
ry. This brillant exploit was followed early in July by 
dashing and successful sallies on Fort Schlosser and 
Black Rock. In the latter, where Colonel Bishopp the 
British Commander lost his life, the British burned 
the Barracks, Naval Arsenal, and a fine schooner. 
In the meantime things were going badly with the 
British, both on Lake Erie and the Western Canada 
peninsula. On the Lakes, Sir James Yeo was in 
command of the Navy, but the means placed at his 
disposal were utterly inadequate to enable him to 
maintain that supremacy which was so essential to 
the defence of Canada. On the Uth of September, 
an engagement took plan between the two navies, the 
preponderance being very largely in favor of the 



THE WAR OF J8I2-I3-J4 23 

Americans. The engagement lasted five hours, when 
the British surrendered, every vessel had become 
unmanageable, every officer killed or wounded and 
one third of the men wounded. On the America side, 
the loss was J 23 killed or wounded, out of a force 
of 600 men. This defeat was a fatal one for General 
Proctor. It destroyed his last hope, and ruin or re- 
treat seemed his only alternative. He was without 
supplies or necessary clothing and disease was ripe 
among his men. Amherstburg was practically de- 
fenceless, as it had been stripped of guns and ammuni- 
tion to equip the fleet. He therefore decided upon 
destroying the forts at Detroit and Amherstburg and 
retreating on Burlington Heigts. Tecumseh and his 
Indians protested but finally yielded, and adhered to 
the falling fortunes of their Brittsh allies with noble 
and unwavering constancy. The retreat began on 
the 27th of September, and from the careless way in 
which it was conducted it was evident that Proctor 
did not expect the American force to follow him. 
The bridges were left standing, the men were badly 
and irregular lyfed, orders were absent or conflicting. 
The soldiers were utterly dispirited by the alsence of 
any plan or energy at Head Quarters and were in no 
condition to fight even equal numbers certainly not 
a vastly numerically superior force. 

The American troops unencumbered, rapidly 
gained on Proctor^s force and came up to it, two miles 
from a village of christian Indians, called Moravian- 
town. The relative strength of the forces was Ameri- 
cans 3,500 of whom 1,500 were mounted riflemen. 



24 THE WAR OF I8I2-J3-I4 

British about 500 and 890 Indians under Tecumseh. 
The charge of the Americans soon dispersed the 
small band of regulars, and though Tecumseh and 
his men thus left unsupported fought gallantly, they 
were eventually forced to give way with the loss of 
their noble chieftain. Only about 50 escaped, the re- 
mainder were taken prisoners* Proctor with about 
250 men remaining, managed to effect his retreat to 
Burlington Heights. His military career was by this, 
the saddest reverse of the war, closed forever. It 
however awoke in the Canadian people a spirit of 
more intense and dogged resolution to defend their 
country to the last. On the appearance of Proctor at 
Burlington Heights, Vincent whose Head Quarters 
was some 7 miles from Fort George, broke up his 
camp, and joined him, determined to make a last 
stand in defence of the Western Peninsula, should the 
American force, make its appearance. Fortunately it 
was recalled to Detroit. Meanwhile on the Atlantic, 
British and American men of war had been engaged 
with alternate success and defeat on either side. 
About the same time the Americans tried to capture 
Isle aux Noix on the Richelieu River, 12 miles above 
St. Johns, but failed. This was followed by reprisals 
on Plattsburgh and Burlington by the British. In 
September a body of 8,000 men was collected at 
Sacketts Harbor, having in view the descent of the 
St. Lawrence, and the capture of Montreal. The em- 
barkation took place on the \ 7th of October, and con- 
sisted of four Brigades. This was known at Kings- 
ton in a few hours, whence 8 gun boats, and a Mili- 



THE WAR OF I8J2-I3-J4 25 

tary force of 900 men and 3 field pieces, followed the 
American flotilla. The American force landed near 
Prescott, and continued their march along the shore, 
their boats cruising close to American side. The Ge- 
neral commanding the American troops was named 
Wilkinson, whose character and sobriety is bitterly 
attacked. Lt. Colonel Morrison of the 89th was in 
command of the troops sent from Kingston in pur- 
suit. He debarked his troops at Iroquois, and continued 
the pursuit by land. On the Uth November he 
came up to Boyd division of 2,500 men and six field 
guns at a point half way between Morrisburg and 
Aultsville, known a Chryslers farm, and considering 
the site advantageous, off erred battle. Wilkinson 
seems to have supposed that Boyds division would 
alone, be sufficient to meet the British. The engage- 
ment began shortly after two o^cIock, and was exceed- 
ingly sharp. By 5 o^cIock, the Americans were in full 
retreat, in fact were fast becoming a disorderly rout 
when a re-inforcement of 600 men arrived, too late 
to do more than give confidence and safety to the 
flying troops, who took to their boats and hid their 
flight in the darkness of that November night. The 
looses were British 22 killed, 157 wounded, 12 mis- 
sing; Americans killed 102, wounded 237. About J 00 
prisoners were taken but there was no attempt at pur- 
suit, the British being worn out with fatigue, and 
having neither cavalery or reserve. The day previous 
to this battle, Wilkinson had sent forward to Cornwall 
to sieze the government stores, a division of over 
3,000 men under General Brown. In the meantime 



26 THE WAR OF J8I2-t3-J4 

Lt. Colonel Morrison continued his advance. On the 
J 2th November, the main American army formed a 
junction with Brown's division, and about sunset on 
this day he heard of the defeat of Hamptons force at 
Chateauguay. He at once determined to relinquish 
the proposed attack on Montreal, and began his re- 
treat. He sailed with his flotilla up the Salmon river 
and went into winter quarters at French Mills, now 
Fort Covington. Here sickness and famine preyed 
upon his men until February, when boats and barracks 
were burned and the place abandoned, part of the 
force going back to Sacketts Harbor, while Wilkin- 
son led the remainder to Platsburgh. 

The importance and effect of this engagement 
cannot be over estimated. It was **the battle of 
Montreal " says one writer. By diverting the expedi- 
tion from this city it completely frustrated every 
object for which it was formed. For a mere handful 
of men to defeat the largest hostile army that has 
ever set foot on Canadian soil, added greatly to the 
prestige of British and Canadian arms. We now 
turn to Eastern Canada, now the Province of Que- 
bec, and for a few moments I desire to allude to the 
part the Roman Catholic Clergy played in this 
war. The head of the church was the Rev. Father 
Plessis, Bishop of Quebec, and born in Montreal 
in J 763. He was intensly loyal the British Crown. 
In an address, which the made at the opening of 
the war he said : " In considering the vexatious 
tricks organised against the church and people of 
Canada, by chiefs who were sent from the Court of 



THE WAR OF I8I2-J3-J4 27 

Louis the 14 ^' he frankly admitted that under the 
English Government, the Catholic Clergy and rural 
population enjoyed more liberty than was acceded to 
them before the conquest. After having praised the 
English Nation which he said had generously wel- 
comed the French ecclesiastics, hunted out of France 
by the Republicans of 1792, he added ** that the ca- 
pitulation as well as the treaty of \ 763 were so many 
new ties of attachment to Great Britain and that re- 
ligion itself would gain by the change of domination/' 
Holding such sentiment he issued an episcopal 
mandementf which was read in every church. In it 
he said " it is to you belongs the task of opposing 
yourselves like a wall to the approach of the enemy. 
They will cease to be formidable, when the God of 
battles fights on your side, under his holy protection, 
march to combat, as to victory. Sustain your repu- 
tation for obedience, for discipline, for valour, for 
intrepidity. Your confidence will not be vain, if in 
exposing your lives for the defence of your country 
and your hearths, you take care before all things to 
make your peace with God.** These sentiments of 
the Bishop were enforced with eametness by the 
clergy every where, and the resuk was that recruiting 
was most successful. On the 22nd of September 
J8I3, Hampton, who was in command on Lake 
Champlain entered Canada at Odelltown, with 5,000 
men. Finding his avance opposed by the outposts of 
DeSalaberry, he retraced his steps and made a fresh 
advance by the roads leading northerly to Chatcau- 
guay. DeSalaberry with a force of 300 Canadian 



28 THE WAR OF J8I2-I3-I4 

troops advanced to oppose him at Chateauguay, 
where he fortified his position with a block house 
and an abattts* Here he was unexpectedly re-inforced 
by McDonnell of the Ogdensburgh force. On the 28th 
of October two columns of the enemy 7000 strong, 
advanced from opposite points with the intention of 
surrounding and crushing the Canadians. It is need- 
less, in fact impossible for me to enter into details of 
the fight. I would say however that when the first line 
of the Voltigeurs was driven back, De Salaberry re- 
mained with a small drummer boy, who continued 
sounding the advance. McDonnell also by an adroit 
disposition of the buglers in the woods, sounding the 
advance at great distances apart, induced the foe 
to believe that a numerous force was advancing in 
different directions, while a few Indians, who were 
in the Canadian force, added to their dismay, by 
hideous yells. The result was that the American 
column broke and fled leaving, the field and the honors 
of the day to the little force which with two or three 
exceptions, was entirely French Canadian. Among 
the French Canadian officers severely wounded, was 
Capt. de Bartach, whose daughter married the late 
judge Monk, and is the mother of the present mem- 
ber in the Dominion Parliament for Jacques-Cartier. 
This brilliant exploit completely frustrated the pro- 
jected att ack on Montreal by the combined forces of 
Hampton and Wilkinson. 

Meanwhile Harrison's troops had been pillaging 
the settlers in the neighborhood of Fort George. He 
was succeeded by McCIure who continued his policy 



THE WAR OF I8I2-I3-I4 » 

of driving the peaceful inhabitants from their homes. 
Colonel Murray with 378 of the J 00th Regt. and a 
few Indians and Volunteers^ advanced against him 
with a view of checking his operations. McCIure 
retreated and was followed by Murray to the imme- 
diate vicinity of Fort George. He then determined to 
retire to the American side. Before doing so he 
burned the village of Niagara, only giving an hour^s 
notice, thus leaving 400 women and children house- 
less on a cold December evening. Murray at once 
seized Fort George. The Americans left behind them 
a number of heavy guns which they had mounted, 
magazines of shot and ammunition, and camp equipage 
for 4,500 men. Murray then determined to cross the 
river, and by a night attack capture the American 
Fort Niagara. The expedition landed on the American 
shore, 3 miles above the fort at 4 o^cIock, on a very 
dark December morning. The advance was quickly 
made, and when the fort was reached it was sur- 
prised by a bayonet charge and captured. With a loss 
of only 6 killed and 5 wounded the British captured 
a fort, mounting J 7 guns, took 318 prisoners cap- 
tured 3,000 stand of arms and large quantities of com- 
missariat stores. The Royal Scots and the 4Jst Regt. 
under Drummond and Riall, pushed on and took 
Black Rock after a sharp contest. They pursued 
the American militia to Buffalo, which was captured 
and burned. The British retired and on their way 
burned the village of Black Rock, as a retribution 
for the burning of Niagara by McCIure. As the 
result of this foray the British left the whole Ameri- 



30 THE WAR OF J8J2-J3-J4 

can frontier from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie a 
desolate scene of ruin. Thus the campaign of 18 J3 
closed with the preponderance of success largely on 
the side of the British and Canadian forces. The 
invaders had not yet secured a position on Canadian 
soil, with the exception of Amherstburg, for the loss 
of which, more than an cquivalant had been gained by 
the possession of Fort Niagara. On the other hand the 
Americans with their seaboard blockaded by British 
men of war, their commerce paralysed, their taxation 
increased, felt that the war they had forced upon Can- 
ada was pressing severely on themselves. The cam- 
paign of J8J4 was opened by the American army un- 
der Wilkinson, advancing, on the J 7th March, from 
Plattsburg, on the village of Champlain with a force 
of 4,000 men. A brigade, under General Macomb, was 
thrown into Swanton and then took possession of the 
village of Phillipsburg, a mile within Canadian terri- 
tory, but soon rejoined the main body which advanced 
on March 30th, against LacoIIe Mill. This was a 
small stone building on the LacoIIe River, with a 
shingle roof, and defended by extemporised wooden 
windows barred by beams and loopholed for mus- 
ketry. It was garrisoned by about J 80 men, and its 
capture was considered so certain that a detachment 
was sent to the rear to cut off the escape of the 
defenders. Just as the engagement commenced a re- 
inforcement of two companies of the J 3th arrived 
from Isle aux Noix, after a terrible march through 
slush, often wading through water up to their 
knees. This brought the total British force up to 



THE WAR OF I8J2 13-14 31 

340 men. A bridge that crossed the LacoIIe river, 
below the Mill, led to a small house, which by means 
of logs, made into a breast work, was converted into 
a block-house. With the exception of a small clear- 
ance, these buildings were surrounded by woods. 
There was a foot of snow on the ground. The 
LacoIIe River was still frozen to within a short dis- 
tance of its junction with the Richelieu. The attack 
began at half past one, by an' attempt to flank several 
pieces of artillery, but after repeated trials was aban- 
doned. Later it was renewed and a J2 pounder, a 5 
pounder and a five and a half pound howitzer got into 
position, when a cannonade of the mill began, which 
was briskly replied to by musketry. This was continu- 
ed for several hours, during which the two companies 
of the 1 3th stationed in the woods, several times 
charged the guns, but eventually were compelled to 
retire into the block-house. During one of these char- 
ges, the American artillerymen were forced from their 
guns, but the odds were too great for anything of this 
kind being more than a temporary success. Though 
the mill was struck several times and somewhat 
damaged, though the ammunition was scarce there 
was no sign of surrender. Dark coming on the fight 
ceased, and the American force retired. The British 
commander could not understand this movement. 
Although he fek the strength of the force which 
attacked him, he could scarcely have conceived that 
it was 4,000 strong. He therefore remained on guard 
all night, as he thought the movement was a feint to 
draw him from his position. Expecting an attack in 



32 THE WAR OF J8JM3-J4 

the morning, he, during the night, brought up from 
the gun-boats, frozen in the river, two ji8 lb. carron- 
ades which he posted at the block-house. With the 
coming morning there was no enemy in sight. The 
truth is the United States forces were exhausted by 
the cold and fatigue. Morever they thought that 
without heavy artillery the place was impregnable. 
In the condition of the roads, such guns could not be 
brought forward. The entire American force retired 
to Champlain, and later the major part was ordered 
to Plattsburg. The British loss was J \ rank and file 
killed, 2 officers \ sergeant and 43 rank and file 
wounded, and 4 missing, one Indian killed and one 
wounded. The loss on the part of the United States 
forces was J 3 killed 128 wounded 13 missing. In 
the meantime the British force on this frontier, at 
St. John and Isle aux Noix, had been raised to about 
J, 000 regular troops and 450 Militia. They were 
however kept entirely on the defensive and the Amer- 
icans were allowed to proceed in the work at Ver- 
gennes, on two vessels. So satisfied were they that 
an attack was intended by the British, that 500 men 
were brought thither from Plattsburg for their protect- 
ion. When they had been launched however, Capt. 
Pring with two small gun-boats made a demonstra- 
tion against them, which being unsupported by a 
land force turned out a failure. Prevost, is held res- 
ponsible for this. He likewise refused to allow Sir 
George Drummond to attack Sackett^s Harbor which 
was considered necessary, to break the power, of the 
Americans on Lake Ontario. He was however, in- 



THE WAR OF J8I2-I3-I4 33 

duced by him to agree to an attack on Oswego, 
which had a well defended fort. It was from this 
place in 1 760 that Amherst sailed down the St. Law- 
rence, landed at Lachine, marched into Montreal, 
camped on the site of the priests farm on Sherbrooke 
street and took possession of Montreal. The British 
fleet, consisting of 2 frigates, six others vessels and 
eleven gun-boats, and carrying J, 080 soldiers sailed 
from Kingston on the 4th of May and on the morn- 
ing of the 6th the troops were successfully landed 
under a hot fire from the batteries, and the discharge 
of 500 muskets. Advancing steadily up the hill under 
this destructive fire, the British gained the summit to 
find the defence abandoned, and the defenders in flight. 
Within 10 minutes from their entry the Union Tack 
was raised on the flag staff amid the enthusiastic 
cheers of the soldiers. The British lost 19 killed and 
62 wounded, among the former were 2 officers and 
among the latter 6 officers. The Americans lost 6 
killed, 38 wounded and 23 missing. Sixty prisoners 
were taken. Nine guns and several craft, with large 
stores of provisions were captured of and a large quan- 
tity of ammunition destroyed and the barracks burned. 
Chaancey, in command of the American fleet on 
Lake Ontario, was next blockaded at Sacket's Har- 
bor, and part of his expected supplies intercepted by 
gun-boats, though an attempt to pursue a convoy, 
retreating into a creek in that neighborhood, ended in 
defeat, with heavy loss and the surrender of J 20 
men. 

The chief interest in the campaign now again 



34 THE WAR OF J8JM3-J4 

shifts to the West, In May an American force of 
1,500 men made a descent on Port Dover, defended 
by a troop of dragoons and a few militia, who were 
driven away. The town was then burned to the 
ground. Meanwhile large bodies of American 
troops were being, during May and June, massed at 
Buffalo, under Col. Winfield Scott. The force con- 
sisted of two brigades of 2,200 men each, also 500 
artillery, while between Buffalo and Lewiston was 
a regiment of infantry and some rifles, making a 
total force of a little more than 5,000 men. To 
oppose this force the British had about 4,500 men, 
consisting of 1st Batt. Royal Scots, 8th, 4Jst, J 00th, 
J 03rd and a squadron of the 1 9th dragoons. From 
this limited strength, garrisons had to be supplied to 
Fort Erie, opposite Buffalo, Fort Niagara on the 
United States side, captured the previous November, 
also Fort George and the newly-constructed Fort Mis- 
sisaga, at the mouth of the Niagara River. More- 
over, the American navy held supremacy on Lake 
Erie, and it was within the possibilities that a force 
might be landed on its shores and marched across 
the country. A force was therefore stationed at 
Port Dover, and at another post established in the 
vicinity of the present city of London. The post at 
Burlington Heights had also to be defended. Sir 
Geo. Drummond watched the preparations at Buffalo 
with great anxiety. He saw the magnitude of the 
attempt that would be made, and the necessity of 
Canada meeting it as strongly as possible. He asked 
Prevost that reinforcements be sent him from East- 



THE WAR OF I8I2-I3-J4 35 

cm Canada, as he thought the gathering of a force 
at Plattsburg was only a feint, but he was refused. 
Drummond felt that the blow might fall at any mo- 
ment, and being uncertain as to where the landing 
would be made, had distributed his force at various 
points. On the 3rd of July, at day break, the Amer- 
ican army crossed the river — one division a mile and 
a half above Fort Erie, the other division a short 
distance below. A heavy fog concealed their move- 
ments. Fort Erie was poorly fortified and held by 
J 00 men, who surrendered and were made prisoners. 
They then pushed on to Chippewa, where Pearson 
was in command with 700 regulars, 300 militia and 
300 Indians. Pearson at first advanced, but finding 
the Americans in force, retreated, destroying the 
bridges behind him. He was followed, however, 
the bridges being rapidly repaired. Riall, who was 
entrenched about two miles in the rear, near Street^s 
Creek, heard about 8 a.m. of the American advance. 
He at once ordered five companies of the Royal 
Scots to join his forces. He had previously sent 
word to York to have the 8th regiment join him. 
On the morning of the 4th of July Scott's brigade of 
the American army advanced toward Chippewa, 
Riall being in his entrenchments. On the morning 
of the 5th he received reinforcements, bringing his 
force up to 1,500 regulars, some militia and Indians. 
At 4 p.m. he advanced against the Americans. 
Kingsford in his magnificent ** History of Canada '* 
calls this action the ** Balaclava ** of the campaign. 
Again and again the British charged against the 



36 THE WAR OF J8I2-I3-J4 

solid American line^ and were as often forced back 
by a terrific shower of grape, cannon and musketry. 
As fast as men fell the line closed up. When the 
British were within 80 yards the line got into confu- 
sion, and Riall seeing the terrible slaughter, and 
that success was impossible, withrew his men, 
the 8th Regiment covering the retreat. This was 
carried out most orderly, not a gun or a prisoner 
falling into the enemy^s hands. The loss of the 
American troops is put at 308 killed, wounded and 
missing, but it is believed to have been much heavier. 
The British lost one-third of the men taken into 
action, viz., H9 killed, 3\6 wounded, 46 missing — 
a total of Sn. Of this number the Royal Scots lost 
63 killed and J35 wounded, and the 100th 70 killed 
and J 34 wounded. Among the officers of the 100th 
severely wounded was the Marquis of Tweedale. 
No immediate attempt was made by the United 
States troops to follow up their success. Riall des- 
troyed his entrenchments and retreated along the 
Niagara River to Fort George, within which he 
took refuge. The American army advanced leis- 
urely, with much caution, and took possession of 
Queenstown heights. Here it remained nearly in- 
active for some time. It however made marauding 
excursions in various directions, some of which were 
attacked by the British, many prisoners being taken. 
General Brown, of the American army, had been 
expecting the assistance of Chauncy^s fleet to enable 
him to take Fort George, but owing partly to the 
illness of Chauncy and partly to the fact that he was 



THE WAR OF J8J2 I3-U 37 

now effectually held in check by the British fleet of 
Yeo. Brown, gave up his design on the fort, and re- 
treated towards Chippewa, closely followed by Riall, 
who took up an advantageous position on a rising 
ground in a country road called Lundy's Lane, 
while a waiting reinforcements. Meanwhile Drum- 
mond at Kingston, on hearing of the action at Street's 
Creek, had ordered a new levy of the militia of the 
province, and a number of them, who had returned 
temporarily to their farms, loyally responded to the 
call. Drummond hastened on to York (Toronto), 
and with 400 men of the 89th and other companies, 
he pushed on to Niagara. Finding that Riall had 
already advanced, he sent a detachment under Col. 
Tucker, against an American force at Lewiston, 
while he himself pushed on to Queenstown. The 
enemy having disappeared from Lewiston, Tucker 
re-crossed the river with his detachment and Drum- 
mond's re-united column of 800 men, advanced to 
join Riall's of about the same number. Meanwhile 
Winfield Scott, believing that the British force op- 
posed to him at Lundy's Lane, was greater than he 
at first thought, sent for reinforcements, and Gen. 
Brown, with Ripley's and Foster's brigades, hast- 
ened to his support. Riall finding that he was about 
to be attacked by an overwhelming force, had com- 
menced a retreat, when Drummond arrived and 
countermanded it. He found himself in command 
of 1,600 men, and confronted by an American force 
of at least 5,000 men, part of which had advanced 
to within 600 yards by the time he had reached the 



38 THE WAR OF I8J2-J3-J4 

top of the hill at Lundy^s Lane. The engagement 
began with an attack from Scott's brigade before 
Riall had completed his formation, though he lost no 
time in establishing a battery of two guns on a small 
eminence. Today from thence, on a summer day, 
the eye can take in a large expanse of sunny, peace- 
ful country, rich woodlands, peach orchards and 
vineyards, tranquil homesteads and fields of living 
green. But on that July evening, from six o'clock 
till midnight, the peaceful landscape was clouded 
with heavy sulphurous smoke, the sweet summer air 
was filled with the dull boom of artillery and the rattle 
of musketry, the shout of the charge, the groans of the 
wounded, all blending strangely with the solemn, 
unceasing roar of the great cataract close by. The 
battle, the most fiercely contested of the whole war, 
raged with fierce obstinacy and severe carnage, and 
an obstinate determination on both sides. About 9 
o'clock a brief lull in the fighting occurred, while the 
rear guard of the American force under Gen. Brown 
took the place of Scott's brigade, which had suffered 
severely. At this critical moment Sir Hercules Scott, 
with J, 200 men, arrived on the spot after a march of 
twenty-one miles, and between the two unequal 
forces thus re-inforced the British resumed the con- 
test. The chief struggle was for the possession of 
the guns on the height. By a successful dash at 
one time of the Americans thjey were for a time 
taken, but were soon retaken. The darkness was 
so great that in a retreat two guns were exchanged. 
Nothing, says an on-Iooker, could have been more 



THE WAR OF J8I2-I3-I4 39 

terrible, nor yet more solemn, than this midnight 
contest. The desperate charges of the Americans 
was succeded by a death-like silence, interrupted 
only by the groans of the dying and the dull roar 
of the falls of Niagara. About midnight Brown, 
having unsuccessfully, for six hours, with his force 
of 5,000 men, against little more than half that number, 
tried to force the British from their position, retreated 
to Chippewa with a loss of 930, that on the British 
side amounting to 870. Riall had been wounded 
and taken prisoner early in the action, and both 
Scott and Brown were wounded, Scott having had 
two horses shot under him. Drummond was badly 
wounded in the neck, but retained his command un- 
till the end of the battle, cheerily urging on his men 
to fight to the last. On the next morning, the 26th, 
the American commander, having destroyed the 
bridge over the Chippewa, burned Street^s Mill and 
thrown much of his equipage and provisions into 
the river, retired to Fort Erie, which had been greatly 
strengthened since it surrendered to the Americans. 
Drummond having received reinforcements was 
now in command of 3,150 men — the garrison at 
Fort Erie numbering 3,000. On the 1st of August 
he moved his headquarters to midway between 
Chippewa and Fort Erie. On the following day he 
moved to opposite Black Rock, from which point he 
sent a detachment of some seven hundred men across 
the river, with the intention of taking Buffalo and 
thus cutting off the supplies from Fort Erie. The 
expedition found itself strongly opposed, and was. 



40 THE VAR OF I8I2-t3-J4 

after a severe engagement, forced to retire with con- 
siderable loss. He then made a gallant attempt to 
capture Fort Erie, which was partially successful, 
but, just as the first column had entered the embra- 
sureSt an accidental explosion killed many of the 
storming party. This caused a panic which com- 
pelled Drummond to retire with a loss of more than 
500 men. Being reinforced by the 32nd and 6Jst 
Regiments, Drummond entrenched himself and 
waited developments. On the J 7th of September 
Brown, with a large force, attacked the British en- 
trenchments. The fighting began at 2 o'clock in 
the afternoon and was continued till 5 o'clock. In 
the early part of the battle the British were forced 
from their entrenchments, but soon recaptured them 
and drove the Americans back. They then retired 
upon Fort Erie. The defeat of this attack was so 
severely fek that no attempt was made to renew it. 
The severity of the fighting will be understood from 
the losses, viz: British, \\S killed, J 78 wounded; 
United States, 80 killed, 2H wounded. Meanwhile 
reenforcement of 16,000 men from England had ar- 
rived, and Prevost, assisted by a fleet on Lake Cham- 
plain and an army of some 10,000 or 12,000 men, 
made an attack on Plattsburgh, and met with an in- 
glorious defeat, which, it is admitted, was a surprise 
to themselves. Kingsford says that the Americans 
had made every arrangement to evacuate the place, 
so satisfied were they that the British would be suc- 
cessful. A large body of the troops at Plattsburgh 
had been sent to reinforce the blockading troops on 



THE WAR OF J8J2-J3-I4 41 

Lake Erie, leaving General Macomb with only J, 500 
militia, newly called out. Prevost might easily have 
overpowered his weak enemy, but he was obsti- 
nately determined to await the attack of the newly 
collected fleet commanded by Downie, who was 
almost a stranger to his command, and who was 
prematurely hurried into action by Prevost. Downie 
was killed J 5 minutes after the firing began, and 
the British vessels were overpowered. Instead of 
attacking simultaneously with his artillery, he waited 
till the fleet had been defeated by the greatly supe- 
rior squadron opposed to him, when he counter- 
manded the advance of the troops he had so irreso- 
lutely put in motion, and ordered a retreat without 
even an attempt at an assault. The indignation of 
the disappointed troops was almost uncontrollable, 
and Macomb could hardly believe his good fortune. 
For the lamentable incompetency manifested in his 
conduct of this affair Prevost was to have been tried 
by court martial, but died before this could take 
place. 

The end of this long and exhausting war was 
happily near at hand. The close of the general 
war in Europe early in J 8 14 had left Great Britain 
free to begin a retaliatory naval war on the United 
States, the effects of which were soon felt. The 
American seaboard, from Maine to Mexico, suffered 
from the inroads of British squadrons, whose attacks 
forced the recall of a portion of the American land 
forces then in Canada. Sir John Sherbrooke, Lieu- 
tenant Governor of Nova Scotia, made successful 
attacks on the coast of Maine, carrying one point 



42 THE WAR OF J8J2-J3-J4 

after another, till the whole border, from Penobscot 
to New Brunswick, was under British rule, and so 
continued till the ratification of peace* About the 
middle of August, Admiral Cockburn, with 50 ves- 
sels, arrived at Chesapeake Bay with troops destined 
for the attack on Washington. Tangier Island was 
seized and fortified, and J. 500 negroes belonging to 
neighboring plantations were armed and drilled. 
There were two rivers by which Washington might 
be approached : the Potomac, on which it is situ- 
ated, and the Patuxen, which flows in its rear. The 
British commander chose the latter, both on ac- 
count of the facility of access and for the purpose of 
destroying the powerful fleet of gunboats which had 
taken refuge in its creeks. This object was success- 
fully accomplished on the 20th of August, J 5 of the 
gunboats being destroyed and one captured, together 
with H merchant vessels. The army was under 
the command of General Ross, and the following 
day disembarked at Benedict. It numbered, including 
some Royal marines, 3,500 men, with two hundred 
sailors to drag the guns — two small three-pounders. 
For the defence of Washington, General Winder had 
been assigned J 6,600 regulars, and a levy of 93,000 
militia had been ordered. Of the latter not one put 
in an appearance, and of the former only about half 
had reached the Capital. The Americans had, how- 
ever, 26 guns to oppose the two which the British 
had with them. General Winter took up a position 
at Bladensburg, a few miles from Washington. His 
batteries commanded the only bridge across the East 
Potomac. General Ross determined to storm the 



THE WAR OF J8J2-I3-I4 43 

bridge in two columns. Not a moment did the 
veterans of the Peninsular war hesitate. Amid a 
storm of shot and shell they dashed across the bridge, 
carried a fortified house, and charged on the batteries 
before the second column could come to their aid. 
Ten guns were captured. The American army- 
was utterly routed, and fled through and beyond the 
city it was to defend. The lack of cavalry and the 
intense heat prevented pursuit by the British, who 
lost sixteen men killed and 185 wounded. Towards 
evening the British occupied Washington. The des- 
truction of the public buildings had been decreed, in 
retaliation for the pillage of York (Toronto) and the 
wanton burning of Niagara. Writing of this episode 
of the war, Kingsford says : ** For over two years 
the United States had conducted war on Canada 
with the spirit of ferocity. They had commenced, 
without provocation, by burning the Houses of Legis- 
turc at York. A more wanton act than the destruc- 
tion by fire of Niagara is not to be found in the an- 
nals of war. It was therefore but just that the people 
of the United States should themselves experience 
the calamities they had inflicted. An offer was made 
by the United States of a large money ramson, but 
it was refused. The next day the torch was applied 
to the Capitol, with its valuable library, the Presi- 
dent's house, the Treasury building, the War Office 
arsenal, dock yard and the long bridge across the 
Potomac. A fine frigate, a 20-gun sloop, 20,000 
stand of arms and immense magazines of powder, 
had already been destroyed. In the meantime Alex- 
andria, on the right of the Potomac, seven miles 



44 THE WAR OF J8J2 tS-U 

south of Washington, had been captured by Sir 
James Gordon, It was saved from destruction by 
the surrender of 21 vessels, J 6,000 barrels of flour 
and a thousand hogsheads of tobacco. A few days 
later General Ross evacuated Washington, and re- 
tired unmolested to his ships. Baltimore was next 
visited. On the JUh of September the fleet arrived 
at the mouth of the Patapsco. On the J 2th General 
Ross landed with 3,270 troops. An advance was 
made ; in going alone to bring forward some troops, 
he was shot at and killed. Col. Brooke, of the 44th 
regiment, assumed command. Five miles from Bal- 
timore the British came upon the United States 
troops, and an engagement ensued. They — the 
Americans — were routed and retreated toward the 
city, the British bivouacking on the ground which 
had been held by the American troops. On the 1 5th 
the British advanced to within two mile sof Balti- 
more, from whence the entrenchments prepared for 
its defence were visible. There he remained to ob- 
tain intelligence from the fleet, and to arrange for its 
co-operation in storming the place. It was however 
found that, owing to the entrance to the harbor being 
obstructed by sunken ships, co-operation was im- 
possible. Both commanders were of opinion, keep- 
ing in view their instructions, that the advantages 
to be gained, would not be a sufficient equivalent for 
the loss which might probably be experienced in 
storming the place. The British therefore with- 
drew, and like at Washington, were allowed to rc- 
cmbark without molestation. In Florida the British 
established themselves for some time, but were de- 



THE WAR OF I8I2-I3-J4 45 

feated before New Orleans. Later in the year^ some 
hostilities of minor importance took place on Lake 
Ontario, the Niagara frontier and the Western 
Peninsula. In December, 1 814, the British and 
American envoys, who had been in session in 
Ghent for some months, ratified a treaty of peace. 
Thus closed this most unjustifiable war. The Rev. 
Dr. Withrow summarises the situation at this time 
as follows: **The calm verdict of history found 
much ground for extenuation in the revolt of 
1776, but for the American declaration of war in 
J 8 12, little or none. A reckless Democratic majority 
wantonly invaded the country of an unoffending 
neighbor, to seduce them from lawful allegiance and 
annex their territory. The long and costly conflict 
was alike bloody and barren. The Americans did 
not annex a single foot of territory. They did not 
gain a single permanent advantage. Their exposed 
seaboard was attacked at every point, their capital 
city destroyed, their annual exports reduced from 
£22,000,000 to £1 ,500,000, three thousand of their ves- 
sels captured, two thirds of their commercial men be- 
came insolvent. Avast war tax was incurred, and the 
very existence of the United States imperilled by 
the menaced secession of the New England States. 
The right of search and the right of neutrals, the 
ostensible, but not the real cause of the war, were 
not even mentioned in the treaty of peace. Many 
of the leading American statesmen believed then, as 
some believe even now, that the conquest of Canada 
would be an easy matter.'* Thomas Jefferson, in 
1812, just previous to the war, wrote as follows : 



46 THE WAR OF J8J2 I3-J4 

** The acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the 
neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of 
marching, and will %'nz us experience for the attack 
on Halifax and the final expulsion of England from 
the American continent/' At the same time Dr. 
Eustis, Secretary of State for War, said in Congress : 
**We can take Canada without soldiers; we have 
only to send officers into the provinces, and the peo- 
ple will rally round our standard/' The celebrated 
Henry Clay, at the same time, expressed himself as 
follows: **It is absurd to suppose we shall not 
succeed in our enterprise against the enemy's pro- 
vinces. We have the Canadas as much under our 
command as Great Britain has the ocean. I would 
take the whole continent from them, and ask them 
no favors. I wish never to see a peace till we do." 
Miss Machar, in the Canadian Encyclopedia, says : 
** To Canada the war was, from a material stand 
point of view, an almost unqualified misfortune; 
devastated territory, neglected farms, sacrificed lives 
and desolated homes, were long evident marks of 
the invasion. Forced into hostilities simply in vir- 
tue of her being an integral part of the British Em- 
pire, Canada never wavered in her loyalty, though 
often contending at a disadvantage against over- 
whelming odds. During nearly the whole duration 
of the war, inadequate military forces, insufficient 
supplies of provisions and materials of war, increased 
the inequality of the contest, while the incapacity of 
the Governor General, and at times the insufficiency 
of leaders, repeatedly betrayed the British cause. Yet 
the loyal Canadian yeomen, willingly threw them- 



THE WAR OF J8I2-J3-I4 47 

selves into the breach and fought gallantly for their 
homes and their flag. In moral benefit to Canada, 
the war was most fruitful. It gave unity and esprit 
de corps to its diverse elements. French Canadians 
and British Canadians fought side by side and vied 
with each other in devotion to their common coun- 
try. Increased self respect and self reliance, fitted 
and educated the colony, for the responsible govern- 
ment it was before many years to enjoy. Many 
settlers were attracted to Canada, among them many 
military veterans, who, by the traditions they car- 
ried with them, rivettcd still stronger the links to the 
mother land. The opening national life of the coun- 
try was ennobled by its suffering for the cause it 
deemed the right, and strengthened, elevated and 
purified by its sacrifices in resisting an unrighteous 
invasion, it emerged from its * baptism of fire * all 
the more fitted to become a noble and vigorous na- 
tion. The lot into which its struggling infancy 
refused to be forced, is not likely ever to become the 
choice of its vigorous prime.'* 

WORKS CONSULTED. Kingsfotd History of Canada, Coffin'* 
War of {812-H, Canadian Encyclopedia, Various Pamphlets of Historical 
Societies. 




